Natural Beauty: Why Use Mineral Makeup? and more... Natural Beauty: Why Use Mineral Makeup? Thank Goodness for the mineral makeup revolution! I have to say that prior to mineral makeup foundation, it was torturous having to wear liquid foundation. Don't get me wrong, if regular foundation works for you, I'm happy for you. I, for one, found it such a hassle trying to get liquid foundation to blend in with my skin. My face always looked ghost-like in pictures! Well, now there are companies that let you create the perfect blend for your skin, but I just find it easier to use mineral makeup. Just for the fact that mineral makeup is good for your skin in that it contains natural ingredients should be enough to make you at least try it out if you never have. Why pass up on something that is good for your skin? The benefits of mineral makeup include being free of:
Minerals are not just for makeup either. The skin care experts over at Harley Street Skincare have been using minerals on their patients to ease skin redness. They later developed their own mineral makeup line because of patient feedback. I do notice that the red, blotchy spots on my face go away when I wear mineral foundation. Do you use mineral makeup? Why or why not?   Finding the Right Pair of Jeans
Yes, there are some of us who have been blessed with bodies that fit nicely in any jean, but for the rest of us, we have to spend a little more time hunting. If you have a hard time finding the right pair of jeans, here is a helpful article that will help you choose jeans for your body size type. Here's my favorite tip from the article: Don't get hung up on a designer label. Look for jeans that fit, even if that means a cheap pair of Levis. I've shopped for jeans online, and I'll usually find a pair that look cute on the model, but if I buy it and it doesn't fit, I don't want to have to go through the hassle of returning it and ordering another pair *hoping* that it will fit. I own a pair of skinny jeans, flared jeans, and boot cut jeans, but now I want a pair of boyfriend jeans that are baggy at the top and tapered at the bottom. I came across this pair of jeans at the G star shop that are the closest to what I envisioned, but they're actually men's jeans...  Have you ever purchased jeans online? How hard or easy is it to find the right pair? 
Arm Candy for the Arm Party There's a new term floating around in fashion blogger circles..."arm party"...and you're invited :) No really, you are! Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly has posted a new challenge for Bloggers Do It Better members inviting them to throw their own arm party. I love bracelets, but have never worn more than 2 or 3 at a time, and I don't wear them on both arms. I used to watch Rachel Zoe's show and see her arm parties wishing I could pull off that look. I'm sure I could, but it's a little out of my comfort zone. In my corner of the world I've only seen teenagers and young girls wearing tons of bracelets on their arms. However, after seeing Kristina's and The Man Repeller's arm party, I thought, What the heck? It's time to get my party on! I've started out slowly with this challenge because I am a conservative party thrower. Ok, I'll just admit it, I'm a little boring. I was in a pink and silver mood today, so I threw on these three bracelets - a silver Tiffany bracelet, a double-strand beaded bracelet (my own design), and a woven bracelet I bought at the swap meet (pictured above). After writing up the post about watches the other day, I wish I could offer up some new pretty arm candy to wear for this arm party challenge - like this bracelet watch from Skagen UK...  Looking for some arm candy to throw your own arm party? Here are some bracelets that I thought would be cute to wear all together... I'm looking forward to throwing an arm party every day for the next few days before it's time to finalize my post for submission to Kristina's latest challenge. In fact, I may just bust out the jewelry making kit and come up with some new bracelet designs :)  Semi-Rant About Beauty Pageants Americans particularly are fascinated with beauty pageants, and I find it fascinating that they're fascinated by them. In America we have child beauty pageants and even reality shows about child beauty pageants. It just makes me wonder what kind of messages moms are sending to their little girls. The only way to be pretty is to wear a ton of makeup and have a big bouffant hairdo? I don't mean to come off as being judgmental because that is their life and they can do whatever they want to, but I really feel for these little girls when they're just not in the mood and their mothers are forcing them to compete. Think that beauty pageants are just for cute little girls and skinny women? Think again. Ben Muessig of The Huffington Post writes about a different kind of beauty pageant - the Miss Cicciona pageant in Italy where women who are over 220 pounds can compete and be recognized for their own unique beauty. I'm not someone who likes beauty pageants, but this does open up our minds to a different way of thinking and perceiving beauty In Australia there's a group called Pull the Pin on Beauty Pageants for Children which gathered today to protest a pageant being held in Melbourne. Some members of this group feel that beauty pageants for kids is bordering on child abuse. What do you think about beauty pageants?  My Top 3 Ways to Save Money on Beauty Treatments Although it is nice to be able to visit the salon or spa every week to get pampered, sometimes it's just not feasible if you're on a budget. I'm one of those women who actually prefers to give myself facials, manicures, and pedicures rather than going to the salon. I don't know exactly how much money I've saved pampering at home, but I'm sure it's over $100 a month, which is $1,200+ a year! There are many ways to save money on your beauty regimen, so I thought I'd share my top 3 ways to save money on beauty treatments: 1. Invest in a nail manicure kit - There's something therapeutic about giving myself a manicure or pedicure. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather sit at home in front of the TV watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Sunday nights while giving myself a manicure. For me, it's much better than sitting in a salon. You can find manicure kits at your local beauty salon or online. Check out Beauty Express for salon services - www.beautyexpress.co.uk. 2. Create a tranquil atmosphere with aromatherapy essential oils - Women love going to the spa because it offers them a little refuge to relax. However, you can create that same atmosphere at home. First step: If you have kids, send them off with the sitter for awhile. Second step: light a few candles and heat up some aromatherapy essential oils in your favorite scent. Peppermint oil always relaxes me. 3. Give yourself a facial - Throw on your favorite fuzzy bathrobe, turn on some relaxing music, and treat yourself to a facial at home. Did you know that you can buy skin therapy kits that come complete with everything you need to maintain natural, healthy skin? What are your personal tips for saving money on beauty treatments?  The Great Sunscreen Debate
Although it's been said that sunscreen does protect your skin from harmful UV rays, there are others who say that sunscreen contributes to skin cancer because it blocks the creation of Vitamin D, which the body actually needs. Various studies have shown that Vitamin D is an important factor in cancer prevention. An esthetician once told me that in order to prevent wrinkles and brown spots from showing up on my face, I should use sunscreen. I still have yet to take her advice. Part of me does believe that sunscreen is harmful, but at the same time I don't want those UV rays in my body either. I've decided to just stick to wearing a hat when I'm out in the sun for any long period of time. I read that the majority of sunscreen products harm people, so if you are going to apply any sunscreen, make sure to use a product that contains healthy, organic ingredients. An organic aloe vera sun lotion would be good because aloe vera has the additional benefit of keeping your skin cool and nourished. Although we've been warned about the potential damaging effects of the sun's UV rays, many of us continue to lay out in the sun or visit tanning salons. I think that doing this in moderation is ok. I've lived in California for 30+ years without using sunscreen and my skin appears to be healthy. I also drink alot of water and eat healthy foods, so I'm sure that has contributed to my healthy skin. What are your thoughts about the sunscreen debate?  Review: Made From Earth Beauty Products Thankfully there are more beauty companies nowadays that offer organic, holistic products that don't contain parabens, sulfates, and all the gunk that can wreak havoc on your skin and immune system. And they wonder why skin cancer is the most common form of cancer? I recently had the opportunity to sample products from a company called Made From Earth which contain healthy ingredients. I've tried out the Green Tea Toxin Cleanser, the Peppermint Herbal Conditioner, the Three Berry Face Serum, and the lip balm. My thoughts: Green Tea Toxin Cleanser - I've never used a cream cleanser before, so it took awhile for me to get used to it. I do like that it doesn't dry out my skin. Peppermint Herbal Conditioner - This definitely soothes my itchy, dry scalp. My scalp isn't as flaky as before. Three Berry Face Serum - This can be used as a light moisturizer. When I use this I don't have to actually apply a regular moisturizer on top of it. I can use it by itself. Lip Balm - This is my favorite product because it keeps my lips very soft. You know how some lip balms wear off when you rub your lips together? I'm constantly rubbing my lips, and this lip balm stays put! Although I do like that Made From Earth uses predominantly organic, healthy ingredients in their products, I did look at the list of ingredients in the Green Tea Toxin Cleanser. Two ingredients caught my eye: Tetrasodium EDTA and Phenoxyethanol. These are compounds used as preservatives and are not exactly good for you in large amounts. Have you tried Made From Earth products? What do you think? Learn more about the company by visiting: http://www.madefromearth.com  DIY Fashion: Design Your Own T-Shirt The artist in me decided that designing a t-shirt would be a fun summer project. I was watching my friend's 7-year-old daughter that day, so of course she was down with the idea of creating a unique t-shirt. Want to keep those rambunctious kids busy for an hour or so? This is the project for them! Besides, it will inspire them to show off their creativity and encourage them to express themselves in a fun way. My friend's daughter loves Selena Gomez, so she used this t-shirt as a chance to show how much she adores the teen idol. I still have yet to figure out what kind of design I'm going to paint on my own t-shirt. Maybe a message like, "You are beautiful! Yes, YOU!" I have neon pink and glittery purple paint to work with - although I may go back to Michael's and get some rhinestones and iron-ons....  If you don't feel comfortable using your own hands to draw art, nowadays there are shops that let you design your own t-shirt using their online shirt builder. Add your own digital art or use the designs that are offered with the software. Some shops even let you create your own personalized hoodie, polo shirt, handbag, or sweat shirt. Who says you can't be a clothing designer?  Your Watch Talks About You
I've mentioned before that I don't even wear a watch, so what does that say about me? I don't care too much about time. Well, that's the message I'd like to send anyway. Ken Kessler of The Wall Street Journal breaks down what your watch says about you. Based on what he says in that article, I would fall under "The Fashion Icon" or "The Bohemian". I love whimsy, but I also appreciate quality, designer watches like this Michael Kors watch...
I find myself being drawn to ceramic watches in all white or black. There's something about a ceramic watch that emits a very chic and sophisticated aura. Some say that ceramic watches are a trend that will fade in a few years, but I see them as classic pieces that could be collector's items in the future - especially if it's a designer brand like Chanel. Who cares anyway if it's a trend? If you love it, wear it! This Glam Rock black ceramic watch with white enamel and a black onyx stone is a cross between luxe and edgy...
What do you look for when shopping for a watch? Do you think your watch talks about you - whispering your secrets of personal style to people?  Photoshopped Celebrities: Stop the Madness You know how authorities in the U.S. have been cracking down on the importation of counterfeit handbags and clothing? It should be the same for cosmetic companies that plaster airbrushed celebrities across fashion and beauty magazines. Recently L'Oreal wanted to run an ad with Julia Roberts that was obviously airbrushed to the tenth power. Thank goodness the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) had enough sense to ban the ad because it was deemed to be "misleading". Why can't the U.S. have these types of standards? Enough already. Stop the madness! Get the scoop: L'Oréal's Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington ad campaigns banned [Guardian.co.uk]  Shoes Are Like Love... I come from that generation of fashionistas when high-top Reeboks and L.A. Gear shoes were "Awesome!" We would wear them with two pairs of socks - different colors - and tuck our jeans into the socks. I'm so tempted to bring back that trend from the 80's! My brother gave me the pair of Nike running shoes pictured above a couple years ago. They're so lightweight that sometimes it doesn't even feel like I'm wearing shoes at all. Besides that, I love the basic, almost retro style. Nothing fancy - just a great pair of walking shoes. They're starting to get a bit worn out, but just like a fine wine, it just seems to get better with age.   Attending Cosmoprof 2011 in Las Vegas? Cosmoprof is a trade show for the cosmetic and beauty industries where professionals can network and learn about all the latest in beauty products, services, and trends. Every year it's held in Las Vegas, but there are also Cosmoprof shows in Bologna, Istanbul, and Hong Kong. This year's convention in Vegas will be held from July 31st - August 2nd at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. This will be my first year attending, but I won't be there until Tuesday, which is the last day of the show. If you represent a beauty brand and will be in Vegas next week, I'd love to meet with you!  More Recent Articles |
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